Small Businesses Do Not Review Their Phone Accounts Regularly

A third of SME managers responsible for mobile communications have not reviewed their company's mobile costs for two or more years, despite 36% thinking they pay too much for mobile services, according to research from T-Mobile UK and the opinion pollsters, YouGov. The survey found that a quarter are struggling to make effective mobile communications purchasing decisions because they don't understand enough about mobile technology, and a fifth find price plans too complex to understand.

Lack of flexibility, international call costs, poor customer service and lack of tailor-made plans were all cited as frustrations with their current mobile communications packages.

Technology 'must haves'

The survey also asked what mobile technology SME managers consider to be a 'must have' in order to stay ahead of the competition. Surprisingly, Internet-enabled mobile phones were the top choice (24%), followed by virtual private networks (22%) and Wi-Fi Hotspots (21%), whilst BlackBerrys and satellite navigation were considered the joint fourth 'must have' by 20% of those surveyed.

Flexible working

Although two thirds of the 835 respondents surveyed stated that they offer their staff flexible working, 62% said they would be more likely to use Wi-Fi HotSpots if they were included in their overall price plans. This is despite the fact that Hotspots can help improve staff productivity on the move, and they are considered the third highest 'must have' for staying ahead of the competition.

"Flexibility and the ability to handle customer enquiries quickly and efficiently is critical to success for SMEs," says Martin Webb, Entrepreneur and Presenter of Channel 4's Risking It All. "I know from my own experience that having email and internet access on the move is a great way to address this and compete with the big guys. Mobile communications can have such a positive impact on a growing business, and shouldn't be neglected - particularly when there are costs involved. SMEs should make sure they take full advantage of the mobile technology that is out there, and work closely with their network operator to ensure that their plan is easy to understand, cost-effective and tailored to their business."

"As with all costs that businesses face, mobile communications plans should be reviewed on a regular basis," says Derek Williamson, Head of Business Marketing, T-Mobile UK. "However, as with many decisions relating to technology, it can seem a daunting process and is often delayed or even ignored despite the impact it can have on a business' bottom line.

"Many mobile tariffs can appear complex and confusing, however T-Mobile is taking the lead in ensuring that our price plans are simple, fairly priced and tailored to each business' specific needs," continues Williamson. "Our Business 1-Plan calculator clearly demonstrates how much the tariff can save companies based on their current voice, text, data and HotSpot usage and we challenge SMEs to take a fresh look at their mobile price plans to ensure they really are getting the best plan for their business."

Posted to the site on 21st March 2007